Automatic car coupler



H. F. WOERNLEY AUTOMATIC CAR COUPLER Filed July 10. 1924 INVENTOR HARRY WOERNLEY ATTbRNEY Patented Mar. 29, 1927.

UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE' HARBY F. VVOERNLEY, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE WEST- IN GHOUSE AIR BRAKE COMPANY, OF WILMEBDING, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORA- TION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC CAR COUPLER.

Application filed July 10, 1924.

This invention relates to automatic car and air line couplers ot the tight lock type provided with a looking lover or latch which is adapted to enga je a surface on a counter'- part coupling` head in order to lock the heads together.

The principal object of my invention is to provide means for positively looking the locking lever or latch in its coupler looking 10 position.

In the accompanying drawing; Fiat 1 is a, side elevation of an automatic coupler head with my improvementapplied thereto;

Fle'. 2 a plan view thereot` partially in section; and Fipj. 3 a partial plan View thereof, showing the means for securing the looking pin to the ouple' head.

As shown in the drawing" the coupler head 1 is provided with projections 2 adapted to interlock with corresponding projections of a counterpart coupler head. The coupler heads are locked together in the copled position by means of a pivoted latch 3, having a cam face 4: adapted to en'aze a surface 5 of the counterpart coupler head The lati'h 3 is operated by a rod 6, which is pivotally connected to the latch and is subject to the pressure of a (-oil spring 7 tending to force the latch 3 into its looking position.

A double fork member S is secured to the end of the rod 6, the prones of which straddle a cam 9 and intermediate the two pairs of prongs a roller 10 is pivotallv mounted so as to be engaged by the projections 11 ot the cam 9 when the cam is rotated. Said cam is Secured to a pin 12 which is adapted to be 'otated by a handle 13 Secured to the pm.

Serial No. ?25,264.

According to my invention, a looking pin 4 lei is provided for postively looking the latch 3 in its coupler looking position. The curved extensions 15 of the latch 3. which straddle the rod 6 and are pivotally connected to the rod by pin 16, are eXtended, as shown in the drawing Fig. 2, and are provided with reeesses to receive the locking pin 14. The coupler head is provided with lugs 17 having apertures for receiving the pin 14:.

In operation, when a pair of coupler heads have been coupled., the looking pin 14 is inserted in the apertures of the lugs 17, so that the pin engages the recesses of the extensions 15 and thereby positively locks the latch 3 against :movement from its coupler looking position.

hen the pins 14 are withdrawn to permit unlocking of the coupler heads, by operation of the handle 13, each pin is retained 50 with the coupler head by means of a chain 18. Secured to the coupler head.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is 2- In an automatic car coupler. the combination with a coupler head having a rigid knuckle and a latch for engaging a counterpart coupler head to thereby lock the counterpart knuckles together, of lugs carried 70 by said head and having apertures disposed in the path of said latch and a pin manually insertable in said openings te engage said latch and thereby prevent movement thereof from its locked position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HARRY F. WOERNLEY. 

